The Special Relationship between Grandparents and Grandkids


While I can’t speak for all seniors, I will say among my circle of friends and acquaintances, talking about our grandchildren is a common topic. For many of us, our grandchildren add a whole new component to our lives, and we have learned firsthand that the bond between grandparents and grandkids is a very special one. 

This may be because a grandparent’s role is more about enjoying time spent with the grandchildren and a lot less about discipline and rules. That job we gladly leave to mom and dad. Right from the beginning, we are the fresh pair of hands that walks a fretful grandbaby until they fall asleep. As they grow older, many grandparents delight in taking the grandkids on “adventures” such as trips to the neighborhood park, an animated movie, visits to the dinosaur exhibit, or a meal at their favorite restaurant. 

In addition grandkids are a great excuse to share hobbies that as retirees we now have more time to do from craft projects to baking, dancing, playing a musical instrument, photography, fishing, etc. Most kids are happy to create a masterpiece from paper, finger paints, or crayons; paste on googly eyes to create a sock puppet; or decorate a box for their treasures. Baking is another fun activity, and depending on their ages, they love to decorate a batch of homemade cookies, build a gingerbread house, or work alongside grandma to bake a cake or pie. Having young ones around also helps to make holidays more magical as we see it through their innocent eyes. Trimming a Christmas tree and decorating the house with holiday cheer is a whole lot more fun with young ones. 

Grandkids also give us the chance to lovingly remember the time we spent raising our own family. Moreover if we missed out on things with our own children due to a busy career and other obligations that come along with being a parent, we are given an opportunity for a redo. 

Another great thing about hands-on grandparenting is it turns out it is beneficial for seniors. A recent study from the National Health Service reports that grandparents who babysit their grandchildren had a 37 percent chance of living longer when compared to non-caregiving grandparents and non-grandparents. It just might be grandchildren are our reward for raising our own children, and while many of us are taking a break from in-person visits with grandkids due to COVID, thankfully we have lots of ways to stay in touch. 

MorningStar at Jordan Creek proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Des Moines – West Des Moines has to offer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Benefits of Assisted Living

Image
Studies show that for many older adults in need of a little daily assistance, life is easier in assisted living.  The reason so many of them say they prefer assisted living to living on their own, is it actuals helps them to feel more – not less – independent.  In fact, senior living communities such as MorningStar of Littleton are designed to provide seniors a lifestyle of comfort, wellness, and community.   When you live in your own home, you have the constant worry of upkeep and unexpected repairs, or you may be a person who no longer feels comfortable driving and have given it up altogether.  This makes running errands, grocery shopping and getting to doctors’ appointments difficult. Moving into assisted living means you no longer have to spend time worrying about maintaining a home, and communities such as MorningStar offer scheduled transportation.  Meal prep is another thing that is often difficult for the elderly, and as a result, many older ...
Read more

MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s Reflections Neighborhood

Image
  Along with the finest assisted living Des Moines –West Des Moines has to offer; MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s Reflections Neighborhood has 29 secure suites devoted to caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The Reflections Neighborhood is specifically designed to allow our most tender residents the freedom to explore their surroundings safely and easily. Within the safe haven of our “Neighborhood,” we have created an environment that encourages and supports residents’ independence whenever possible. We accept residents in the earliest stage of the disease right through to those in more advanced phases that require the highest level of care. As dementia care specialists, we understand how devastating it is when a loved one receives a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another memory loss disease, and we want you to know we are here to help. We are honored to offer care and support as we walk alongside the memory-impaired and their families on this u...
Read more

MorningStar at Jordan Creek’s Assisted Living Meets All of Your Needs

Image
If you are looking for exceptional assisted living, Des Moines area MorningStar at Jordan Creek may be your answer.   Our community has 56 private assisted living suites , and another 29 secure suites devoted to the care of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases.  If you are wondering how costs are determined, we can provide you with a general guideline.  Assisted living offers seniors 62 years and older compassionate assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in a residential setting and each resident’s care is personalized to address their needs.  Even before you move in, MorningStar’s Wellness Director will sit down with you and your family and do a thorough assessment in order to create an individualized care plan.  Once you have moved in, your trained Care Managers will see to it your needs are met, and as we do routine Care Plan reviews, any changes to your health will be addressed.  You monthly fee is based on ...
Read more